Minerva Network Celebrates 1,000 Athletes: A Milestone in Women’s Sport ​

The Minerva Network, Australia’s leading support network for professional sportswomen, has welcomed Wallaroos captain Siokapesi “Pesi” Palu as its 1,000th athlete, a milestone that reflects both the scale of women’s sport in Australia and the increasing demand for structured commercial and professional pathways.

Bridging the gap

Minerva Chairman and Co-Founder Christine McLoughlin said the network was designed to address a fundamental imbalance in sport: “These athletes are celebrities in every sense. But they weren’t getting support around navigating commercial sponsorships, building their brands, or planning their careers beyond sport. Minerva was built to change that,” McLoughin expressed.

Underlining the broader purpose of the organisation, Minerva’s Athlete Leadership Group Leader, Olympian Cate Campbell OAM. added: “Every day I’m inspired by the women in Minerva. Their strength, ambition, and generosity serve as constant reminders of what’s possible when we unite.”

For Palu, reaching this milestone represents both personal recognition and collective progress.

“It’s an honour to be Minerva’s 1,000th athlete, especially in a World Cup year.”

“This milestone represents the growing strength of women’s sport and the power of community,” Palu noted. 

The Sports Governance Program

The network has also expanded its remit to governance and leadership. In 2022, Minerva launched its Sports Governance Program, providing pathways for athletes to transition into board and executive roles.

This initiative highlights the growing expectation that athletes (particularly women) can play influential roles in shaping sports administration, with governance experience increasingly valued by both federations and corporate partners.

Minerva’s growth has coincided with the surge of women’s sport more broadly, including the AFLW’s expansion, the Matildas’ record-breaking FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign, and consistent Olympic success.

These developments have drawn significant investment from corporate Australia, with brands such as Accenture, Harvey Norman, Aurecon and nib, alongside pro bono partners including Bain & Company and Norton Rose Fulbright, committing to the network. Government support has also been notable, with the NSW and Queensland governments among those backing the initiative.

A National Platform

Founded in 2017, Minerva was established to close a gap in athlete support structures, where female athletes historically had limited access to mentorship, sponsorship, and brand-building opportunities readily available to their male counterparts. Since then, it has grown into a national platform with chapters in six states and territories, offering programs spanning financial literacy, sponsorship education, resilience, and personal branding.

While symbolic, the 1,000-athlete mark signals a more pragmatic shift: as the commercial ecosystem around women’s sport continues to professionalise, the demand for mentorship, sponsorship readiness, and governance pathways will only grow.

Minerva is positioning itself not just as a support network, but as an infrastructure layer critical to sustaining the business growth of women’s sport in Australia.

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